Ambrose turned in his seat again, looking at Hayden. "Sir,” he said, eyeing his boss’s stiff countenance. “Is everything alright?"

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Hayden snarled, maintaining his angry, frazzled expression even as his heart hammered against his ribs like a sledgehammer. “My wife is in danger from God knows what, and you are asking me that?”

Ambrose flinched, his eyes guilty. “I’m so sorry, sir,” he apologized again. “I shouldn’t have let ...